Strengthening Vietnam-Germany Cooperation Through People-to-People Activities

The Vietnam – Germany Friendship Association’s Hanoi chapter plans to further push for cooperation and exchange between the two countries in various areas in the 2022 – 2027 period, heard at its 11th Congress for the next five-year tenure held on August 31, VNA reported.

The Vietnam-Germany Friendship Association in Hanoi will renew its activities and promotes people-to-people exchanges. Photo: HAUFO

It will maintain close contact with the Embassy of Germany in Vietnam, Goethe-Institut, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), Germa Industry and Commerce, German businesses and community in Hanoi.

It will popularise Vietnamese culture, people, and natural landscapes among Germans and promote Hanoi as a safe city for foreigners as well as its cultural heritages. The Hanoi chapter will continue organizing cultural exchange activities on the two countries’ special occasions, such as National Day, the anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties, and major joint political events.

To increasingly expand the gathering of people who have studied, worked, and have a cooperative relationship with Germany, for the 2022-2027 term, the friendship association will strive to establish adding 4-6 member branches, continuing to expand the scope of activities and areas of activity, focusing on businesses and organizations having relations with Germany; maintaining and promoting close and friendly relationships with the German Embassy, the Goethe-Institut, German organizations, commercial offices, and enterprises.

During the 2017-2022 term, the Vietnam – Germany Friendship Association of Hanoi has participated in and organized many rich and practical activities, actively contributing to the promotion of the Prime Minister’s people-to-people diplomacy, as well as strengthening the solidarity and friendship between the people of the two capitals Hanoi – Berlin in particular, and the two countries in general.

The association’s chapters have many typical activities such as The chapter of Vietnam – Germany High School focuses on the German language teaching program for high school students, and creates the best conditions for the teachers to improve the quality of teaching, and gain practical experience in teaching German.

The chapter in Economic and Urban Affairs newspaper actively promotes to German friends about the country, people, and culture of Vietnam, about Hanoi – The city for peace, a safe destination for international friends, especially promoting the cultural heritages of Hanoi and Vietnam recognized by international organizations.

Simon Kreye, Chargé d’affaires at the German Embassy in Vietnam. Photo: HAUFO

Simon Kreye, Chargé d’affaires at the German Embassy in Vietnam, affirmed that Southeast Asia has an important position for Germany, showing his support for the exchange and people-to-people activities of the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations (HAUFO) in general, the Vietnam – Germany Friendship Association of Hanoi in particular.

Kreye expressed his delight at the cooperation and outstanding development in economic and trade relations between the two countries in recent years; At the same time, he hopes that this relationship will grow more and more, contributing to the common stable development of the Asia-Pacific region and the world.

Nguyen Lan Huong, member of the Hanoi Party Committee’s standing committee, chairwoman of the city’s Fatherland Front Committee, and HAUFO president. Photo: HAUFO

Speaking at the event, Nguyen Lan Huong, member of the Hanoi Party Committee’s standing committee, chairwoman of the city’s Fatherland Front Committee, and HAUFO president, suggested that, in the next term, the friendship association will continue to promote propaganda about the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Germany on the mass media, helping people of the two countries enhance mutual understanding.

In addition, the association needs to maintain relations with the Central Vietnam-Germany Friendship Association, the German Embassy, and partners in coordinating exchange activities, especially the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations in 2025; expanding cooperation relationships with people’s organizations and friendship organizations in Germany; promoting cooperation in the fields of economy, culture, education, tourism; developing branches and members in departments, branches, districts, businesses that have relationships with Germany, especially paying attention to the young generation to preserve and develop good bilateral relations.

The new executive board members. Photo: HAUFO

Congress approved a 27-member executive committee. Nguyen Quang Hieu, Secretary of Hoang Mai District’s Party Committee, was elected as president of the Hanoi chapter.

By the end of 2021, Germany had a total of 415 effective FDI projects worth USD 2.29 billion in Vietnam, with the biggest being a USD-190-million solar project in Thanh Hoa province.